Parachute Ring Release Assembly That Prevents Stitching Peel Failure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ring release systems, such as the 3-ring release system, suffer from deficiencies including attachment stitching that can fail under high tension forces, leading to peeling rather than shearing, which compromises the stability and reliability of parachute release mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

The proposed ring release system incorporates a riser with multiple plies and attachment webbing stitched between them, utilizing a cascading rotatable design with retaining rings and keeper-loops to secure the release rings, preventing peeling and ensuring shearing forces are distributed effectively, thereby enhancing the system's stability and reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If attachment stitching is used to secure release rings to the riser, then the release system can be assembled and secured, but under high tension forces the stitching fails by peeling rather than shearing, compromising reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestitching failure modeVSAvoidstitching load capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

A retaining ring is introduced as an intermediary component between the release ring and the riser webbing. The retaining ring captures the release ring and distributes loads through its structure, preventing direct peeling forces from acting on the stitching. The keeper-loop further mediates the connection, ensuring forces are transferred as shear rather than peel to the attachment points.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of allowing the release ring to attach directly to the webbing with stitching that must resist peel forces, the design inverts the force path by using the retaining ring and keeper-loop to redirect and distribute forces. This causes the stitching to experience shear loading (parallel to the webbing) rather than peel loading (perpendicular to the webbing), fundamentally changing the failure mode.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of operation

If the release ring is allowed to rotate freely, then the release mechanism can function, but the stitching may be subjected to peeling forces that cause failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverelease ring rotationVSAvoidstitching stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The retaining ring acts as a mediator that permits the release ring to rotate for normal operation while simultaneously preventing rotation that would generate peeling forces on the stitching. The keeper-loop serves as a second intermediary that guides and constrains the rotation path, ensuring forces are distributed as shear rather than peel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11772802B2Ring release systems and methods utilizing a removable pin

Publication Date: 2023.10.03 FOX JR ROY L

AI summary

A ring release system is configured to releasably couple a parachute to a payload. The ring release system may comprise a series of release rings affixed to a riser. At least one release ring comprises a removable pin, permitting installation of the release ring after associated components have been stitched together, improving the reliability and manufacturability of the ring release system.